• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Receive Free Recipes by Email
Sign Up
  • About
    • Meet Sara
    • Work With Me
    • Shop My Favorites
    • Discount Codes
    • Contact
  • Resources
    • Business
    • Keto
    • RB Friends FB Group
    • Nut-Free Keto Recipes FB Group
  • Cookbooks

Real Balanced

A food blog dedicated to sharing easy and delicious low-carb, nut-free, and 30-minute recipes and resources.

  • 30-Minute
  • Main Dishes
  • Snacks
  • Low Carb
  • All Recipes
Home Blog Is the Keto Flu A Real Thing?: What It Is and How to Overcome

Is the Keto Flu A Real Thing?: What It Is and How to Overcome

Published:10/05/18Updated:06/20/19
4 Comments This post contains affiliate links.
what is the keto flu blog post pinterest graphic

Starting a ketogenic diet? Heard about the keto flu? Read this post and learn all about what the keto flu is, the symptoms, remedies, and how to avoid it.

what is the keto flu blog post pinterest graphic

YES, the keto flu is real and YES, it can completely knock you down on your path to ketosis. Luckily for us, there are plenty of solutions on the market to make your keto flu vanish as quickly as it hit you!

For some, keto flu is unfortunately one of the negative side effects of transitioning to a ketogenic diet. With that being said, once you get through the “flu hump,” I promise you that the benefits of ketosis outweigh the negatives of the short bout of sickness and lethargy!

If you need more convincing, read more about what the keto flu is and how to overcome it below!

What is the Keto Flu?

The keto flu is the result of a variety of components:

  1. Becoming “keto-adapted” (a state in which your body is efficiently running off fat for fuel),
  2. Electrolyte loss,
  3. Dehydration, and
  4. Withdrawal from carbohydrates and sugary foods.

My Personal Experience with the Keto Flu

For me, I only experienced a small bout of the keto flu as I transitioned from a paleo diet to a ketogenic diet, wherein my paleo diet lifestyle was lower in carbs than the Standard American Diet I had previously been following. Ryan, however, was pretty miserable for about two weeks.

Ryan’s Experience with the Keto Flu

When Ryan started to reduce his carbohydrate consumption, he was, frankly, pretty crabby and VERY lethargic. When I told him I was writing this post and asked him what he remembered, he quite literally said, “I had no energy for anything and I wanted to punch anything that moved or talked to me.” LOL. So, yeah, some people’s experiences with the keto flu are much more severe than others’!

What are the Symptoms of Keto Flu?

The symptoms usually begin within the first few days, but are totally dependent on the person. Below are some of the most common symptoms:

  • Stomach issues, such as nausea and diarrhea
  • Joint aches
  • Muscle cramping
  • Heart racing
  • Lack of concentration
  • Dizziness

Luckily though, these symptoms never last for very long, a couple weeks at max. Even better, there’s plenty of ways to try and beat these symptoms! 

How do I Avoid Keto Flu?

So glad you asked! You can avoid this dreaded flu in a few ways:

  • Electrolyte replenishment
  • Hydration
  • Sleep
  • Exogenous ketones (optional, but I have found to be helpful)

Above all though, don’t rush the process and listen to your body and what it needs.

Electrolyte Replenishment

If you don’t stay on top of your electrolytes, then you will definitely experience the symptoms of the horrible keto flu. To replenish your electrolytes, you can increase your salt intake, drink bone broth, or take magnesium supplements and eat foods high in potassium, such as avocado, tuna, and salmon.

Potassium

For potassium supplementation, I use potassium citrate in its powder form. I am very, very careful with supplementing with potassium as both too much and too little potassium is VERY dangerous. Please do not supplement potassium without first speaking with a medical professional.

If your doctor recommends taking potassium, I think the powder form of potassium citrate is the most cost-effective, as taking the capsules is pretty minimal in terms of how much potassium you’re actually getting. I use a food scale and weigh out the powder and, like I said before, I never, ever exceed the accepted daily value.

Some indications that you may be low in potassium is muscle cramps, poor sleep, and a racing heart.

Here are some recipes that are high in potassium:

  • Spicy Salmon Poppers
  • Avocado Tuna Salad
  • 10-Minute Spicy Tuna Rolls

Magnesium

Magnesium is an essential to our bodies’ ability to function. It’s a mineral that keeps our bones strong, blood pressure normal, heart rhythm steady, and helps us sleep.

For me, magnesium supplementation has been a key component of my ketogenic diet journey. I take Triple Calm Magnesium every single day and, since I began taking it, my sleep has never, ever been better. Ryan, who doesn’t like supplements much, is also a firm believer in magnesium supplementation and, he too, takes Triple Calm Magnesium everyday.

Sodium

A key component to every aspect of our body’s ability to function, sodium is essential, especially when following a low-carb diet. When reducing carbohydrate consumption, our bodies lose sodium at a much quicker rate, mostly through urine and sweat, thereby leading our bodies to then quickly lose magnesium, potassium, and other major minerals.

While some argue that salt consumption should remain as minimal as possible, I have found that adding salt to all of my food and, depending on my exercise for that day, salting my water. This added sodium intake helps to retain some water, thereby retaining electrolytes. If, for example, I attend a hot yoga class and sweat (a LOT), I would drink salt water throughout the day to ensure I keep my electrolytes levels up.

We like and use Redmond Real Salt, which we purchase from Amazon.

(As a note, all of this information on supplements is NOT  a medical recommendation and you should always always always talk to a doctor before supplementing with anything. I just am sharing what I do and what has worked for me!)

Hydration

Staying hydrated is KEY due to the rapid water loss that our bodies go through when transitioning to a ketogenic diet. When you stay hydrated, you’re lessening the likelihood of getting a headache, being tired, or experiencing nausea. Plus, it’s just common sense!

Sleep

Sleep is crucial for our well-being and is especially important what transitioning to a ketogenic diet. Your body is, quite literally, from one fuel source to another and you WILL be tired, lethargic, and probably a little cranky.

Trust the process and get some much-needed rest. Go to bed earlier, invest in items that improve sleep, like a good mattress and black-out curtains, and recharge your batteries.

(If you’re interested in learning more about my journey to a ketogenic diet and my experience with night terrors, take a look at this post!)

Exogenous Ketones

Exogenous ketones are a hotly debated topic in the “keto-sphere.” Some find the supplementation to be beneficial, while others believe the product is a waste of money and, apologies if this comes across crass, but that it just creates “expensive urine.”

For me, supplementing with exogenous ketones has been beneficial and it’s something that I’ve done since I began following a ketogenic diet. So, before we get into this, please know that I FULLY understand and respect that not everyone will agree with this, but I want to do my best to tell you all what I personally do and what has worked for me.

Now that we have that out of the way, ONWARD!

Exogenous ketones are ketones that come from outside the body, as opposed to endogenous ketones, which the body produces naturally. Exogenous ketones work to increase the ketone levels in your body, thus giving you more energy, among other benefits! You can read more about what exogenous ketones are and if they are for you here. 

Probably one of the more popular options is the powdered forms of Exogenous Ketone Base. Them being in powder form makes it super easy to add into recipes, coffees, and more! I suggest using a blender bottle (I purchased mine on Amazon) or something similar so the powder easily incorporates with the liquid.

If you’re curious about exogenous ketones, my preferred brand is Perfect Keto. You can use code “REALBALANCED” on all of your Perfect Keto purchases for 15% off your order!

Plan your meals 

Like any other diet, life is much easier if you plan your meals. Incorporating fiber-rich vegetables into your diet will decrease your likelihood of experiencing stomach pains (also know as GI backup). Having a plan of action so you stay on track with your goals is key. 

To wrap up…

Don’t let the keto flu turn you off from living your best life in ketosis. Your symptoms can be minimized if some of the common mistakes mentioned above are addressed. Avoid listening to the small voice in your head that might be telling you that you’re not cut out for the low-carb diet. Stick with it! You can do it, and Real Balanced is here to help!

If you have any questions during the beginning stages of your keto diet, feel free to comment below and I will do my best to help you out! Good luck!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Previous Post
50 Keto Side Dish Recipes
Next Post
50 Keto Chocolate Recipes

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

4 Comments

  1. Nan says

    August 14, 2019 at 2:07 pm

    I’ve been doing Keto for 2 weeks now and today I got this horrible pain in my upper stomach felt like throwing up or useing the bathroom ., was even sweating! Is this Keto flu? Thank goodness it passed after about 10 min. What it Gi backup? Is this what I experienced?

    Reply
    • Sara Nelson says

      August 14, 2019 at 3:20 pm

      Did you consume MCT oil (powdered or liquid) or even just a really high fat meal shortly before? It sounds like it was GI distress, not symptoms of the keto flu, especially since it passed so quickly.

      Reply
  2. Pati says

    April 17, 2019 at 8:16 am

    Wow I am so blessed to have stumbled upon this blog. I have been praying to God to help me in my weightloss journey and I have to praise him that this is an answered prayer. I have discovered in one website that popular restaurants in US do low carb. Is it good to eat out?

    Reply
    • Sara Nelson says

      April 17, 2019 at 8:58 am

      Hi, Pati! So happy to have you here! Yes, you can absolutely eat out when following a low-carb, ketogenic diet! Do note that eating at home will give you more control over ingredients and knowing exactly what you’re eating, but I think it’s totally fine to eat out on occasion! Take a look at this blog post about eating out on a keto diet. I think it will be helpful for you!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome, Friend!

My name is Sara Nelson, and I am the face behind Real Balanced. I am a Mom to two and a proud Wisconsinite. Here, you will find easy and delicious tried-and-true recipes that can often be made in minimal time. Read More
K Keto W Whole30 P Paleo DF Dairy-Free CF Coconut-Free VG Vegetarian V Vegan NF Nut-Free EF Egg-Free IP Instant Pot

Popular Recipes

Golden Jicama Fries garnished with freshly chopped parsley on a parchment paper-lined plate atop a marble counter.
Net Carbs:3g

Golden Baked Jicama Fries

overhead hero image buffalo chicken tenders on a baking pan with spoon on top of a marble counter
Net Carbs:0.6g

Keto Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Bacon Wrapped Mini Peppers on a plate with a bowl of the Everything Bagel Dip.
Net Carbs:1.3g

Bacon Wrapped Mini Peppers

Close-up shot of the Low-Carb Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake sprinkled with pepper and paprika, scooped by a spoon with the melted cheese stringing under.
Net Carbs:5.3g

Low-Carb Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake

Overhead close-up shot of Everything Bagel Seasoning Cucumber Boats atop a marble plate. The plate rests atop a marble countertop.
Net Carbs:2.5g

Keto Cucumber Boats: Everything Bagel Seasoning With Avocado

Two bowls of Keto Zuppa Toscana on a marble counter. One of the bowls has a spoon in it.
Net Carbs:2.8g

Keto Zuppa Toscana

30-Minute Recipes

A plate of asparagus noodles with alfredo sauce and bacon with a fork.
Net Carbs:5.4g

Asparagus Noodles With Alfredo Sauce And Bacon

image of a scallop scooped by a spoon from a pan of lemon garlic scallops
Net Carbs:3.7g

Lemon Garlic Scallops

Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad (With Sour Cream And Mayo) in a ceramic bowl with serving spoons atop a marble counter.
Net Carbs:4.5g

Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad (With Sour Cream And Mayo)

a hand holding green bell pepper sandwich atop cutting board and marble countertop
Net Carbs:7.1g

Bell Pepper Sandwich

Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs garnished with fresh parsley served atop steamed cauliflower rice in a shallow bowl. The bowl rests atop a marble counter.
Net Carbs:4.9g

Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs

A pan of creamy dijon chicken.
Net Carbs:3.7g

Creamy Dijon Chicken

eBook cover for 30-minute low-carb recipe book.
Subscribe & receive my Free 30-Minute Low-Carb Recipes eBook!
Finding time to make quick, delicious, and low-carb meals, snacks, and desserts can feel like a challenge, but it doesn't have to be! This eBook contains 10 recipes that are low-carb that can be made and served in just 30 minutes! Sign Me Up!

Reader Favorites

A pan of creamy dijon chicken.
Net Carbs:3.7g

Creamy Dijon Chicken

Two bowls of Keto Zuppa Toscana on a marble counter. One of the bowls has a spoon in it.
Net Carbs:2.8g

Keto Zuppa Toscana

Close-up shot of the Low-Carb Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake sprinkled with pepper and paprika, scooped by a spoon with the melted cheese stringing under.
Net Carbs:5.3g

Low-Carb Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake

Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs garnished with fresh parsley served atop steamed cauliflower rice in a shallow bowl. The bowl rests atop a marble counter.
Net Carbs:4.9g

Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs

Garnished Creamy Italian Sausage Soup in a white pot with a wooden spatula, resting on a white kitchen towel, beside two small bowls with shredded parmesan and chopped parsley on a marble countertop.
Net Carbs:7.4g

Creamy Italian Sausage Soup

As Featured On
Back to Top

Follow Along

  • Join My Groups
  • Nut-Free Keto Recipes
  • Real Balanced Friends
  • 30-Minute Recipes
© Real Balanced 2023
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclaimers
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Back to Top
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.